A married middle-aged woman identified as Mrs Wong has lost HK$1.4 million to a scammer pretending to be a handsome officer from the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, according to a report by TVB's current affairs program "Scoop".
The episode aired on Monday revealed that Mrs Wong was deceived by an online acquaintance who claimed to be a high-ranking officer. "He told me 'I'm called Chen Jianbin, I work in the Hong Kong Garrison, I'm a pillar of the state and wouldn't have any wicked ideas'," Mrs Wong told Scoop.
The scammer reportedly sent photos portraying himself as an attractive man in military settings, including one allegedly showing him at the National People's Congress that appeared to be photoshopped.
Mrs Wong's son had initially warned her about potential scams after she received a call from a stranger in mid-July. However, when he returned from vacation, he discovered his mother had already transferred money multiple times.
The imposter gradually built trust through video calls showing what appeared to be military barracks and detailed descriptions of garrison management. He then began using affectionate language, calling Mrs Wong "darling" and eventually "wife" while making romantic promises.
After gaining her trust, the scammer introduced an investment opportunity in a mainland charity fund, claiming it was guaranteed profitable. Mrs Wong explained: "He said he couldn't invest personally because he was in the military, so he asked if I could help him as his friend."
Within seven days, Mrs Wong made 10 transfers totaling HK$1.4 million. She maintained she was attracted by the high returns rather than the man, and has hidden the loss from her husband who lives in a nursing home due to heart problems.
Despite reporting to police, Mrs Wong expressed lingering doubt about whether she might have wronged a genuine officer, stating: "If he wasn't cheating me, would I... in another perspective, might we be harming him? If he wasn't harming me, I would feel very guilty."